10 facts about the Cotopaxi

1. The Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano reaching a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft), which located 28km south to Quito, Ecuador.

2. The Cotopaxi is the second summit in Ecuador, the first summit is the Chimborazo that reaching a height of 6,268.2 m (20,565 ft), and the third summit in Ecuador is Cayambe that reaching a height of 5790 meters (18996 ft)

3. The Cotopaxi is not the highest active volcano in the world as it claims, the Llullaillaco volcano in Argentina-Chile border, is considerably higher and is definitely in an active phase.

4. The Cotopaxi last volcanic activity was on 1975 (a minor activity), the last major eruption occurred in 1903 through 1904.

5. The first European who tried to climb the mountain was Alexander von Humboldt in 1802, however, he only reached a height of about 4500 m.

6. Wilhelm Rajss, Geologist was the first man that reaches the summit of the Cotopaxi on November 27, 1872.

7. Climbing Cotopaxi is alpine F/PD grade and it’s normally start from the base camp that located on the altitude of 4800 meters.

8. The glacier of the Cotopaxi is one of the few equatorial glaciers, which starts at the height of 5000 meters.

9. Many sources claim that Cotopaxi means “Neck of the Moon” in an indigenous language, but this is unproven.

10. It’s possible to ski from the summit down in some part of the glacier, but you need to do it with a guide that secure you, and also you need to be an Idiot.